What does Jesus mean by 'born' at John 18:37?

Question

At John 18:37, Jesus is speaking to Pontius Pilate and says

“For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.”

This is the only direct reference in the Gospel of John to Jesus being 'born'. The most obvious interpretation to me is this is referring to Jesus' biological birth. This would be similar in English to saying "so-and-so came into the world at 6:32am on such-and-such a date," where we are referring to so-and-so's literal (biological) birth.

Yet, a major theme in the Gospel of John is being 'spiritually' born, such as Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus at John 3.

What contextual or grammatical clues do we have to tell us whether the 'born' at John 18:37 is referring to Jesus' literal (biological) birth, a spiritual birth, or perhaps both?

Answer 1

γεγεννημαι (John 18:37) is the first person perfect indicative passive of gennao (see Bagster's Analytical Greek Lexicon p75).

The English word 'born' is indefinite. Greek uses tikto (deliver a child and cut the chord) or gennao (begetting - a separate entity arriving in the world).

The begetting in the womb of the virgin was the eternal begetting. Afterwards, Mary 'brought forth the Son of her, the prototokos ' (literal, see EGNT/TR), Luke 2:7.

The 'begetting' (gennao) in the womb of the virgin preceded (see Matthew's and Luke's accounts) the 'delivery' (tikto).

Thus it differs from natural generation where 'delivery' (tikto) precedes 'begetting' (gennao) - see John the Baptist's birth and Jesus' description of the mother's grief turned to joy.

Thus the 'begetting' in the womb of the virgin means other than natural begetting and should not be confused with it.

Jesus refers to 'for this cause was I begotten' meaning the cause for which he came into the world, and appeared, in humanity, as a separate entity from Mary.

As Paul states 'come of woman', 'come under law', Galatians 4:4 (it is ginomai 'come' not poeio 'made').

Answer 2

The operative verb in John 18:37 is γεννάω (gennaó = I beget (of the male), (of the female) I bring forth, give birth to) which occurs 18 times in the Gospel of John. Its use, whether literal or spiritual is rather obvious throughout the Gospel.

Spiritual uses:

• John 1:13 - who were born not of blood, nor of will of flesh, nor of will of man, but of God. Note that John goes to some trouble to explain the distinction between being humanly born and born of God.
• John 3:3-8 uses the verb eight times - all discuss spiritual birth except for the question of Nicodemus in V4 (twice). All the others specifically say either being "born of the Spirit" or "born from above/again", etc.

Literal uses:

• John 8:41 - You are doing the works of your father." Therefore they said to Him, "We have not been born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, God."
• John 9:2 - And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?"
• John 9:19 - And they asked them, saying, "Is this your son, of whom you say that he was born blind? Then how presently does he see?"
• John 9:20 - Therefore his parents answered and said, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind.
• John 9:32 - Never out of the age has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of one having been born blind.
• John 9:34 - They answered and said to him, "You were born entirely in sins, and do you teach us?" And they cast him out.
• John 16:21 - The woman has pain when she is giving birth, because her hour has come; but when she brings forth the child, she remembers the tribulation no longer, on account of the joy that a man has been born into the world.
• John 18:37 - Therefore Pilate said to Him, "Then You are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, that I may bear witness to the truth. Everyone being of the truth hears My voice."

Note that the default meaning is literal birth. However, when the verb is used in conspicuous conjunction with a phrase like, "born of Spirit", or, "born of water", or "born from above", etc, then it clearly means a spiritual birth.

CONCLUSION

John 18:37 is discussing Jesus' literal birth in Bethlehem.

[Note that the significant phrase, "for this I have come into the world" is pregnant with meaning (pardon the pun) but might be the subject of another question.]

Answer 3

There are only two times this phrase is used:

γεγέννημαι ► Englishman's Concordance γεγέννημαι (gegennēmai) — 2 Occurrences John 18:37 V-RIM/P-1S
GRK: εἰς τοῦτο γεγέννημαι καὶ εἰς
NAS: For this I have been born, and for this
KJV: end was I born, and for
INT: for this I have been born and for Acts 22:28 V-RIM/P-1S
GRK: δὲ καὶ γεγέννημαι 
NAS: But I was actually born [a citizen].
KJV: But I was [free] born.
INT: however also was [free] bor

We can see what Paul means when that phrase was born is used as an example of what he was born with. It was because of his family line and where he was born that made him a Roman citizen when he came out of the womb.

Paul was born as a citizen of Rome and freedom that it represented.

In the same way when Jesus came out of the womb he was born as King from His Father's lineage as the Word of God became flesh.

The verse In Micah also bears witness who is coming forth in labor.

And you, Beth-Lehem Ephratah, Little to be among the chiefs of Judah! From you He comes forth to Me—to be ruler in Israel, And His comings forth [are] of old, From the days of antiquity.” Micah 5:2 3Therefore, He will give them up until the time When she who is in labor has given birth to a child.

One can see the three times this same word is used as a woman in labor.

◄ yō·w·lê·ḏāh ► Englishman's Concordance yō·w·lê·ḏāh — 3 Occurrences Isaiah 21:3 
HEB: אֲחָז֔וּנִי כְּצִירֵ֖י יֽוֹלֵדָ֑ה נַעֲוֵ֣יתִי מִשְּׁמֹ֔עַ
NAS: me like the pains of a woman in labor. I am so
KJV: upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down
INT: have seized the pains labor bewildered hear Hosea 13:13 
HEB: חֶבְלֵ֥י יֽוֹלֵדָ֖ה יָבֹ֣אוּ ל֑וֹ
NAS: The pains of childbirth come
KJV: The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come
INT: the pains of childbirth come he Micah 5:3 
HEB: עַד־ עֵ֥ת יוֹלֵדָ֖ה יָלָ֑דָה וְיֶ֣תֶר
NAS: the time When she who is in labor has borne
KJV: until the time [that] she which travaileth hath brought forth:
INT: them until the time labor has borne the remainde

The three wisemen also bear witness of a King that was born out of a womb.

"Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him."Matthew 2:2

We also see that this King of Israel is also the son of God.

Nathanael answered and saith to him, 'Rabbi, thou art the Son of God, thou art the king of Israel.' John 1:49

Later on we see this King that was born out of a womb is now dying on the cross

Over His head they placed a written statement of the charge against Him: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Matthew 27:37

OP's question, What contextual or grammatical clues do we have to tell us whether the 'born' at John 18:37 is referring to Jesus' literal (biological) birth, a spiritual birth, or perhaps both?

Definitely would say it's a mixture of both spirit and flesh being born and brought forth as a son of Adam and God.